Balance

by LetAFishBe

Summary:

He is going to abstract.

He's sure he will, any day now.

And he can blame nobody but himself.

He hates it.

And it's Pomni's fault.

Caused by only himself, so really....it is all his fault.

He is going to abstract, and it's his own fault.

Like Ribbit. Like Kaufmo.

 

Jax fucked up. And he doesn't know if he can fix it before someone abstracts.

Notes:

hehe

"We were never friends." He grins, gun aimed dead center between his crescent shaped eyes.

Pomni flinches, blinking as she stared at the rabbit. Eyebrows drawn into a furrow with a small frown and a hurt look in her eyes. "What about all that stuff you told me?"

Jax stood with a sigh, "yeah, I did tell you a lot, didn't I?" His eyes move from one side of the room to the other, one brow raised with a frown of his own. "Not lookin' forward to thinkin' about that tomorrow." His face shifts to a grimace.


And think he does. Not about the corn thing, not about how much fun he had with Pomni, not about any of the things he opened up to her about. No. None of that. He's thinking about their fight.

"We were never friends."

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"I-I know exactly what you're doing with Pomni! It'll never work!" Ragatha shouts after he dropped down from the top of the colorful maze-like structure in front of her. It took him a second to process before his face morphed into one of confusion. "Huh?"  "Ya'know, getting..close with Pomni.." She began standing up from where she fell. A worried look plastered on her face. "To..corrupt her?"  The confusion remained on his face while he pointed the gun at her with a straight arm before changing to one that wasn't amused by her accusation. "Wait- no nonono! Wait-wait!" Ragatha puts a plush finger into the barrel of the gun right as he fires it. It blows up in Jax's face.

The rag-doll took a life off him. "Oh wow.. I didn't actually think that'd work.." He rubbed the soot off of him and pulled out another gun, letting the previous fall to the floor. He empties the whole thing on her. His breathing hard afterwards, staring at the corpse of the doll as it disappeared.

It was about the lost life. Nothing more.

Of course Ragatha would accuse him of something like that. Getting close with Pomni. He wasn't mad about what she said. He wasn't upset at that. No, he was upset about the life she took off of him.

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"Awful." A hand flew behind him to exaggerate his point, shutting his eyes at the thought of a pomegranate.

"I'm learning a lot about you today." Pomni said with an amused tone laced with a hint of fondness. His eyes shot open, mouth closing. He sighs, looking back at her with a grin as he changes the topic, "let's not forget we're here to kill people!" He raises his gun, "we still need to find out where nutso went before we can rest easy." Pomni jumps, frozen in spot her eyes wide and pupils going so small he couldn't see the blue in them. Jax froze as well.

"I'm right behind you, aren't I?" Speak of the devil. The duo instantly and wordlessly pointed their guns and shot.

 

Learning about him. Her. He only said it because he knew she wouldn't let him off the hook. He only said what he did in the hall to get her into a role. Nothing else. She was predictable if she was stuck to something unchanging. And she was so unpredictable for him.

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Jax fires two guns at once in the hall, a bullet hits Pomni. Taking a life off of her, that wasn't meant to happen. His eyes were large as he heard her grunt, seeing a red heart turn grey.  "Whoops, sorry!"

Kinger took himself out soon after. Only he would manage something that dumb. They stare at his body after he turns the light on. "Huh."

"High-five!" Jax held out a hand for a high-five, grinning. Pomni jumps with a "yeah!" as she slaps his hand with her own.

 

What was that? A high-five? Really? Saying a direct "sorry" after accidentally shooting her? The gut wrenching guilt when he saw the greyed out heart with the sound of her grunt? He didn't feel bad. He shouldn't feel bad! It should have been funny! He should have laughed! Why wasn't it funny?

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"Whats your archetype then? The villain?" Jax scoffs at that, turning around to face her.

"Listen, I add a key dynamic!" He points a thumb at himself, "I see how far I can push things," he pokes Pomni hard enough to knock her back a step before appearing behind her and tugging on the ends of her hat. "I screw with people!" He lets out a laugh turning toward the audience pointing at them, "I break the fourth wall." (Yeah, he knows you're watching. He knows you're reading this. You're in his head right now, aren't you? Enjoying the show?)

He bends down to look Pomni in the face, "you wanna know why?" He blinked, not letting her answer. "It's 'cause it's funny!" He stood up, arms shooting out to add to his point, "I do everything 'cause it's funny!" He bent down for only a second, get it in her head. "'Cause I'm the funny one!" His gloved hands sat on his hips with a wide grin.

Pomni stared at him, a wildly confused look across her face, ""The funny one"?" She echos as a question.

 

He's the funny one.

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Pomni was breathing heavily, back facing him while he stares with that empty, practiced grin. "GAH!" She turns around and chucks the gun at him before he could even react. It hit him, he let out a surprised grunt nearly falling over. He thought she'd shoot him, shoot herself with the way she was hunched over! Not throw the [BOINK] gun at him! "You're not the funny one!" She points at him while he rubs his head eyeing her. "Uhh," he looked off to the side, another unexpected thing. "I don't think that counts." He stood up, moving his hands with his words before pointing at her.

She yells. Charges at him. Tackles him to the ground with her hands on his throat. She was squeezing hard. He couldn't rip her hands off. So, he kicked her. Glad for once he was a rabbit and had the strength in his legs to send her flying into the cube conveniently placed behind her. He quickly stood, ready to run. "Hey, what are you doing?!"

She was furious. Grabbing something off the floor he couldn't register as she threw it as quickly as she grabbed it. He barely dodges. He looks behind him to the object before hearing her shout again and suddenly there was a pot hitting him square in the face. He turns around, about to take off as he sees her coming at him again. She grabs his leg, lifting it up to her mouth and biting. "Agh!" He shoves her off again, she stumbles back. Standing like she was ready to charge again, legs and arms spread out. "Fight back!"

"Are you crazy?!" He couldn't.

"I said fight back!" She jumps him again. Punching, scratching. Jax stumbles with her on his back, managing to grab her and throw her to the ground.

"STOP!" Jax stood panting, an ear all kinds of messed up. Pomni was on the floor, panting as well as she turns towards him staring with this angry look on her face.

"Why didn't you fight back?!"

Why didn't he?

"Oh, here we go! Here we go!" He growls out, returning her look of anger for once. "Because I didn't fight back, that means I secretly care about you?!"


She didn't say that.

"I'm just a misunderstood little chicken fetus in an egg that needs to be cracked open."


She didn't say anything like that.

"Well I am NOT! I do not care about you or anyone in this circus in the slightest! End. Of. Story!" He stares, voice wavering as he rose his voice as her. "You are my playthings, and I get JOY out of making. You. Suffer! I'm the one who causes pain for FUN!"

He was spewing anything to throw her off, that's what he was doing wasn't it?

"If I led you on, it was just to make this part hurt you more." He turns away from her. He wasn't sure what face he was making, trying to keep his smile in place. His eye twitches. "[DOINK!]" He lifts a hand shakily, before kicking an object "[BLOINK!]"

He pants, turning back towards her smile in place. "There's nothing more to me." His face fell, ears drooping. Exhausted. "So, please, just stop looking." It was quiet but he walks away hunched over. Leaving Pomni behind.

That was that. That was it. He'd pushed her away successfully. Just how it should be. So why does it hurt so bad?

She wasn't his friend. He had no friends.

"Not anymore."

Not anymore.

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Jax grins, rocking his chair back. The seat next to him is empty. His grin falters for only a second as he glances at it before turning his focus to Zooble. "So, how was the drug trip Zoobie?" Zooble glares at him, flipping him off with that Caine themed censor bar. "Awe, c'mon don't be like that! I'm jus' askin' a question!" He grins more, leaning on the table, arms on either side of his breakfast plate. Half eaten meal.

"It's too early to deal with your bull[BONG]." Jax rolled his eyes looking at his plate, shoveling the rest of it in his mouth before standing up and stretching.

"Uhm," Ragatha hesitates, looking at him, back to the table then, back to him again. "Jax, did Pomni leave her room this morning? I tried to, ya'know, let her know breakfast was ready..but she didn't answer." Why would he know? Why would he care if she left or not? He raises a brow at her, hand on his hip.

"Why would I know?" There are eyes on the both of them, like they can sense something was going on. But they can't, right? They wouldn't be able to because nothing was going on. "Break into her room or something if you're so worried that she doesn't show up to breakfast once." He grins, "or are you just sad she didn't answer you? She must be getting sooo sick of you Rags!"

Ragatha flinches, eye wide. "Wha-what? No, I'm jus-" She stops herself, collecting herself and giving him a blank look. "You know what, forget it. I don't know why I bothered asking you anyways." She put a hand on her head, brushing back her hair before turning back to her breakfast.

He shrugs, walking away with his arms behind his head and his steps confident. To the dorms. He just wanted to go back to his room before whatever adventure Caine had planned, that's all.

He didn't stop in front of Pomni's door and look at her sad little clown face on her door. He didn't care. She could do whatever she wanted. Scoffing, he turns and walks away. Maybe he can mess with someone instead.

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Everyone groans as they step out the portal. Zooble went in Pomni's place like they had with Kinger. Involuntarily. Zooble wasn't as fun as Pomni. Her reactions. Not her. Zooble's reactions weren't as funny as Pomni's.

She wouldn'tve liked that one anyway. Not that he cares. Not that he knows, maybe she would have liked it. They weren't friends. He shouldn't be thinking about her anyway, he didn't think about anyone. Unless it involved pranking them.

Maybe putting centipedes in Ragatha's pillow would get a good reaction.

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Pomni laughs, in disbelief at first before it seemed more genuine. It was short, but it was real. Jax looks down at her with a grin, one hand on his hip the other raising his gun. "We did it!" She cheers, turning and smiling at him. "We made such a good team!" Another short laugh as she reaches up and hugs him. It was a little awkward with their height difference but Pomni didn't seem to care. Jax smiles down at her, more genuine than normal.

Before that genuine look turned into horror. He shoves her off. She stumbles back, shocked for a moment and a little sad. Jax stares at his hand for a second before chuckling, "well, to be fair, our competition wasn't anything crazy." He grins at her. Pomni shook the shock and hurt off her face, a small smile on her face "heh, yeah, true." Pomni turns away from him, his gaze returning to the hand that shoved her off.

His gaze lingers on his hand for a while, when he finally blinks up he sees Pomni has her gun pointed at him. "Huh?" It took a second to realize what was going on. "Ooohh, yeah." He tossed his gun behind him grinning again. "You can betray me."

She didn't.

 

She flinches away from everyone's touch. She looks so uncomfortable when anyone touches her. It started to be clear to everyone she hated physical contact. But she initiated it, and he rejected it.

They held hands while singing Daisy Bell outside of Zooble's door.

She'd been fine touching him. She was comfortable enough with him to be comfortable with contact.

With him. Of all people.

Not Ragatha. Not Gangle. Not Zooble.

She had some weird relationship with Kinger, but Jax was someone she was comfortable enough with to touch.

And he shoved her away.

Jax hears Ragatha scream, she must've found the centipedes. "JAX!!!" She found the centipedes. He lazily moves his head up to the direction of her voice. It isn't funny. But he grins anyway, he didn't even realize he was leaning on the wall with his eyes on Pomni's door. He was just waiting for Ragatha's reaction, that's all.

Ragatha stomps out of her room glaring at Jax immediately. "Oh hi Raggy, fancy seeing you here." He waves at her innocently. She groans, glaring harder.

"Why did you put centipedes in my pillow case?!" She stomps a foot, Jax gave a fake confused look at the question.

"Well! I don't know who could possibly have done that! But it definitely wasn't me, don't worry I'll get 'em outta your room." He grins, sauntering his way into the dolls room and grabbing the little critters, putting them in his overalls pocket carefully. Ragatha watches him the whole time, he turns to begin walking out before she opens her mouth again.

"Are you the reason Pomni hasn't left her room all day, Jax?" What? Jax froze in place, turning with a blank face to look at her. "Did you do something to her yesterday?" The glare remained intense. "Sh-"

"Oh, OF COURSE you'd be blaming me for that! First it's 'Oh Jax! You're corrupting her!' and now it's 'You must've done something to make her not come out of her room today!' Oh, please. It's been ONE day and you're already worried because what, Pomni's just some fragile little thing that has to be held close and kept away from the big bad bunny!?" He gave Ragatha his own glare, harsher than hers. He could feel his ears going back with his anger. Ragatha flinches, her eye going wide. Jax kept going. "You just have to take care of everyone! Make sure she doesn't just abstract because shes soooo fragile!"


"What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?" 

Jax stood straighter, his shoulders falling. "I'd move on." He turns to look at her, "And probably forget about you." He tilts his head, a small smile on his face.


"Wh-what? No. It isn't like her to just...not come out of her room! Not to respond to me- to anyone!" Ragatha shook her head at him. He'd stepped closer to her at some point.


"Okay.." She nods slowly, not looking at Jax. "Okay." She stares off to the side, slowly turning around. "I understand." The arm with the gun moves up, he could tell she was looking at it. It was hard not to tell.

He scoffs, shaking his head. "Heh, geez, you really can't take a joke, can you?"

Pomni was breathing heavily, back facing him while he stares with that empty, practiced grin. "GAH!" She turns around and chucks the gun at him before he could even react. It hit him, he let out a surprised grunt nearly falling over. He thought she'd shoot him, shoot herself with the way she was hunched over! Not throw the [BOINK] gun at him!


He thought she would shoot herself. She asked what he would do if she abstracted tomorrow. She hasn't been seen or heard from all day.

"She's fine." He basically growls out, "Pomni is fine." He stood, glare remaining on the doll.

"Have you spoke to her? Did she tell you that herself?" Ragatha's eye looks between the two of his, Confused. Worried. Scared. Why was she scared?

No. She's fine. He just told Ragatha she wasn't fragile. She isn't fragile. She's fine.

"And what if she did?" She didn't. They weren't friends. He hasn't knocked on her door. He hasn't broken into her room. He doesn't care.

"Jax.." Don't look at me like that. "What happened yesterday?"

Jax stood up, rolling his eyes. "Nothing happened. Other than you losing." He grins. "What, did something happen to you? Are you deflecting?" He teases.

The look of pity turns back to anger at the rabbit. Good. "YOU were with her all day! And after she was with you, at the awards show, she ju-AUGH! Forget it! I don't know why I bother with you. Get out." She what? The ragdoll pushes him and he doesn't fight her on it.

"Whatever. Don't let the bug beds bite." He grins, looking at her as he walks out. "Maybe I left one in there for ya!" He didn't let her say anything when he shut the door. His face fell immediately, eyes turning towards Pomni's sad jester face once more.

She's fine.

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Ragatha's scream is what dragged him out to the hall, annoyed. "Geez, Rags, you see a cen..ti...pede..." His eyes widen at the sight in front of them. Pomni is peeking out of her room-except..instead of her two red and blue pinwheel eyes looking at them, one was scribbled while the other was bright yellow. Her red gloved hand was that inky black color, smaller multi-color eyes running up her arm and meeting up the right side of her face. She's abstracting.

All eyes lock on him, and she smiles. She smiles at him, with a lack of emotion. Her head tilts and he feels his fur stand on end. "Hi Jax," his throat goes dry "are you ready to forget me?"

No, no he didn't want this! This isn't what he wanted, he didn't want her to abstract! "Pom-"

"You'd move on and forget about me, right? I'm doing us both a favor here Jax," the abstraction spreads further on her body, more eyes staring at him. "I'll be out of your hair! Just like you want me to be." She moves towards him, hands behind her back, smile remaining.

"Goodbye Jax. Let's hope to never meet again."

The abstraction took over the rest of her body, growing larger and towering over him. It kept the shape of the jester hat atop its head. He didn't want this. He didn't think she'd abstract when he said that!

"Again Jax?!" Ragatha was still there, she doesn't look all that bothered about the abstracted Pomni anymore. That [HONK]es him off. She just abstracted in front of them and she's yelling at him?! "You caused another person to abstract?! Why do you do this!?" He didn't! He didn't want this! He didn't want to be the reason someone abstracted again!

Everything goes dark around him, colorful eyes opening and watching as he runs.

He's next to abstract. Inky black and multiple eyes cover him, just like Pomni, just like Kaufmo. Just like Ribbit.

And then, it's quiet. Everything is still.

And he screams, his eyes open and he jumps out of bed. It was just a dream. It was only a dream.

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Jax stood with his arms crossed in front of his door. Glaring at the jester's face. His foot thumped against the ground impatiently. He rolls his eyes, he's been doing that a lot lately, hasn't he? Slouching as he walked away from the doors only straightening up towards the end of the hall, his usual grin plastered on. They were not friends. He does not care.

"Oh! Jax, your tail!" Pomni gasped, surprised. Jax raises his brow as he turns to look at her, a teasing smile forms on his face as he squints his eyes at her.

"I didn't take you for a freak, Pomni!" He raises a hand to his mouth, the other going to his forehead in a dramatic flare. Pomni's face changes quickly, not amused. Probably already regretting what she said.

"I wasn-Jax, your tail is back." She rolls her eyes putting a hand on her hip. He gave a confused look before putting a hand to where his tail should be. And there it is, the bump of a tail. He looks to make sure it's real. It is. "Your masculinity healed up now?" She snickers, referring back to the star gazing adventure when he realized his tail was missing.

"My masculinity was never broken! How dare you!" He put a hand to his chest in mock offense, the grin on his face betraying his words.

He gazes around the table, only seeing Ragatha. Yeah, no. He walked past her to the kitchen. Coffee should clear up his head. Just tired from the nightmare and lack of sleep following. That's all.

Jax walks into the kitchen, spotting the jester climbing the counter to get to the cups out of her reach. He couldn't help the snickering that came out of him at the sight. Which, seems to startle the jester. "WHA-AGH!" He laughs harder as he watches her crash onto the ground.

"Thought a clown would be better at balancing than that!" He grins, still laughing at her misfortune. Pomni groans from the floor, slowly turning her head up to look at him. Soon after, accepting her fate on the ground and letting her head fall to the floor.

Jax stepped around her, easily reaching the cabinet and grabbing his purple mug. It had little, darker purple, rabbits hopping around at the bottom. He eyes the jester for a moment before grabbing her mug as well. The outside was red while the inside was blue, yellow pom poms, or circles, were bouncing on top of the red. "That your new sleeping spot, PomPom?"

Another groan, "yeaaahh...'m not getting up anymore." Her face was on the floor, which would be gross if this wasn't the circus. The coffee pot was already finished, He's already there and already has the mugs down so, he pours both of theirs. His had less as he liked to make it extra sugary with the creamers. Pomni usually liked hers more bitter-still with something sweet, but not as much as Jax. He let out another chuckle.

"Cool, more coffee for me!" He grins as a quiet and small "noooo" comes from the floor.

The pot was off, no coffee in sight. He groans, going over to brew some up. Putting enough in for three. Jax, Pomni, and Zooble are the only ones that really drink any in the mornings. Gangle didn't usually drink it, but would indulge sometimes. He reaches into the cabinet to grab his mug, hesitating over Pomni's before grunting and ignoring it. They weren't friends. She can get it herself. If she plans on coming out today.

He resumes his position from earlier in the hall, leaning against the counter, facing the door with his arms crossed. Forcing his foot to not start thumping again. He didn't care.

"There's no way that happened.." Pomni stares at him, mouth slightly open in shock. Jax nods, sipping his sugary drink.

"Oh, but it did! Honestly, you should'a been there. It was such a sight to see." He grins at her, placing his cup back down on the counter he was leaning against. Pomni sat on the counter next to him, shaking her head a smile forming before she takes a sip of her own beverage.

"If I were there, that would have been me." Jax snickers, he could see it. It definitely would have been her.

The kitchen door opens and Jax perks up for only a moment before seeing who it was. Zooble.

He glances at the coffee, seeing it was finished. Good. He needed it. He pours his, a little less than half full then fills the rest with creamer. After stirring he gave it a taste, nodding at his work and beginning to head out. Zooble looks at his cup then at him with disgust. "God, with how much sugar you put in that thing it's a curse you're still alive." He flips them off, not giving a verbal response while he walks off to the table. To his usual seat. Pomni's still empty. He doesn't care. They weren't friends.

He grins spotting Kinger, he can mess with him. It was so easy to do. "Heard there were a bunch'a bugs that got loose this morning." That was all it took. As a bonus, it freaked Ragatha out a little too. Kinger shouted "where?!" before he took off, not giving Jax any time to respond to it. He snickers, sitting in his seat.

"Oh! Pomni!" Jax's ears perk up at hearing her name. Ragatha stood up from her chair, surprised. "There you are! I was worried about you yesterday! I tried to kno-" Jax looks to the hall to see that Pomni is standing there. She looks off. Her eyes look empty, they aren't scribbled but they aren't how they usually were. Big and round. They're half lidded, he isn't even sure she was looking anywhere. But soon after he saw it, she blinks and looks almost back to normal. Almost. Her eyes land on Ragatha first.

"Oh, uh sorry Ragatha. I wasn't feeling like socializing yesterday, heh.." She rubs the back of her neck, forcing a smile onto her face anxiously. "I'm okay! Promise." None of his business. He rolls his eyes and takes a long sip of his coffee.

She's fine. Not that he cared.

Ragatha kept talking.

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His eyes kept moving towards the jester. She was fine. She was talking to everyone like normal, her reactions seemed the same as they would be normally. She was fine.

Why was she fine? Why wasn't she spiraling over everything he said to her the other day? Did it not matter to her? Did she actually listen to what he said? Why does he care? He doesn't care! She's fine, so it's fine. Not like it wouldn't be fine if she wasn't.

Why was he the one not fine? The one slowly spiraling over everything. He does not care about that dumb jester! She is not his friend! He doesn't have friends.

"Geez, who [BLOINK]ed in your cereal today?" Zooble. Again. Why can't they [BONK] off? He glares at them, before he bats his eyelashes at them and puts a hand on his chest.

"Awe, Zoobie! I didn't know you cared for little ol' me! How kind!" He grins at them hoping they [DOINK] off already. Zooble gives him a grossed out face.

"Eugh, no. I don't care about that. You're in the way and staring at...that thing like it murdered your whole family." They gestured to what they were talking about, Jax having no clue what it even is.

"No I'm not." Gaslight.

"Sure, whatever you say. Can you move?"

He puts a finger to his chin, thinking, his eyes traveling to the side. "Nope." Gatekeep.

He closes his eyes, remaining in the way. There is a lack of girlbossing. He heard a familiar "ugh" peeking an eye open just in time to be grabbed by the overalls and pulled out of the way, landing on the ground. There it was. Girlboss. Pomni didn't even give him a second look before she passed by him. And he watched her go. Followed by Zooble and Gangle.

Jax blinks at the three of them, remaining on the ground where Pomni tossed him.

He didn't care.

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She is with Ragatha. Ragatha of all people! Smiling at her. Laughing at something she said. Jax glares at the two, walking over to them and leaning his full weight onto the short jester. "What are you losers talking about?" Ragatha glares at him, "Can you get off of Pomni?" She crosses her arms.

"It's fine, Ragatha." Jax grins at that, about to repeat what the jester said before realizing, it isn't him leaning on her she's talking about. He was elbowed sharply in the side making him jump back, and to add to it, she kicks the back of his knees making him fall over. Ragatha gasps, not expecting that as much as Jax hadn't. His eyes are wide. Pomni turns from him, walking away and giving a small look to the doll to follow.

They weren't friends. But Jax remembered when she did that before, not to him. It was to an NPC. She had enough of...something he couldn't remember. He was too stunned by how quick she got them to the ground. He remembers he gave a whistle, cheering her on for it. She looked flustered, probably not expecting that.

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The two lay on the fake grass together, staring up at the fake stars. It isn't the same as the stargazing adventure, but it's..nice. Just the two of them.

"Ya'know, I was scared to swim for the longest time." Pomni suddenly confesses, her eyes remain in the sky. Jax looks over to her, confused before he begins to snicker.

"Where'd that come from?" Pomni shrugged in response. He looks back up to the stars. "What, you afraid a shark's gonna get ya'?" He teases, he can hear Pomni's eye roll.

"Jerk. No, it wasn't anything like that..I think I always just..saw myself sinking into the waves. Like, I'd drown. But it never happened, obviously. I think about it sometimes. And it's like..that's how I feel. Sinking." Jax doesn't say anything, what could he say? "Sometimes it feels like I'm close to drowning in it all, but then I'm pulled out of it. Not literally, I'm not actually drowning or sinking..but like, mentally?" She glances over to him, her eyes staring into his before she looks back up.

"Well, I don't think you can drown with that big ol' head a' yours." He brings a hand up and pats her head, "looks like it'll float."

"Wha-?" Jax grins as he stares at her, she gives him a confused look. His grin grows wider, "Wanna find out?" He stands, quickly grabbing the jester in his arms and runs to the digital lake.

"Jax! Put me down!" She fights against his grip on her, she screams as Jax jumps into the water. He kept her in his arms. Not letting go of her. Pomni clings to him like her life depended on it.

The water could almost be described as cold, in some weird digital sensation. Jax was still grinning as he brought them back to the surface. Pomni spits out the water, "Jax! What the [BLOINK]?!"


They are not friends. Not anymore. No, they were never friends and they never will be.

Did she feel that sinking feeling when she didn't leave her room?

He shouldn't care. He doesn't.


"Hey, Jax!" Jax turns around to the voice, Ribbit.

No. His eyes go wide. Nope, not going there. Not today, not ever.

"Jax.."

He shoots up, basically running out the door of his room.

"Man, you are bad at these things, aren't ya?" They give a laugh, lighthearted.

Why are they coming back to him? They don't have anything to do with this!

"It's like you just...avoid it!"

So what if he does?

"Ya'know, that's not healthy. Not for you, not for your friends."

Well it's not like he has any anymore!

"What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?"

He stops. Feet planted in the grass. The lake was in front of him.

"They are NOT pleasant to be around! Like at ALL!"

He stares at the lake.

"Have you ever thought that this might be what causes people to abstract in the first place?!"

Yeah.

"JAX!"

How has one little jester put him here?

"When in reality you just [BONK] everything up for everyone else!"

He really does [BLOOP] everything up for everyone else.

"Tell that to him! He's the one that [BOINKS] everything all the time!"

Including himself.

"'Cause it's funny!"

"Wow, the first steps of a budding friendship! Right Ragatha?"

"We were never friends."

"Not anymore."

"Sometimes it feels like I'm close to drowning in it all, but then I'm pulled out of it."

He let the water consume him, closing his eyes as he sinks down. Silencing his mind.

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.

Everyone sat in the usual hangout spot, around the couches. Gangle and Zooble next to each other, with Gangle drawing something in her sketchbook. Happy mask intact. Ragatha and Pomni sat on opposite couches, Pomni being upside down while she talks. Kinger in his pillow fort in front of the couches. And Jax is watching from afar. Leaning against a block with his arms crossed, glaring at the group.

Pomni was his friend once. Just like Kaufmo. Just like Ribbit.

Both abstracted.

He was blamed. He was the last one with Ribbit before they abstracted.

He was the last one with Pomni before she locked herself away.

Ragatha blamed him, he was sure Zooble and Gangle thought so too. Pomni didn't even know them and she blamed him.

It's better to not have him as a friend. He ruins it in the end.

He and Pomni were fine. And he ruined it.

But that was for the better, she wouldn't abstract like they did. Keep them all at a distance. Don't let them in.

He didn't need friends. Pomni will see that in the end, if she hasn't already. Maybe she did. And that's why she was fine. Because he didn't matter to her in the end. Just like it should be.

He pushes himself off the block and walks away.

He left them alone the rest of the day. No pranks, no comments, nothing.

And they were fine.

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.

Nobody checked on him, but he could hear them. Glad he wasn't around, that they had a peaceful day. Everyone agreed. He didn't hear Pomni though, but he was sure she felt the same.

He'd make them miserable tomorrow. Maybe.

Ribbit.

He walks himself to the frog's room, staring at the door of his old friend.

"Ribbit, c'mon man! You're not even gonna let me in?" Jax bangs his fist on the door, getting impatient about the lack of his friend's presence. He's been bored! He needs to mess with people with the only fun person around!

He leans his head against the door, pressing an ear against it. Nothing. "Are you even in your room? You wander off and get lost?" He knocks again. "Oh, well I guess if you aren't in your room you wouldn't hear me out here..huh." He stood up, tilting his head. "Well, if you're not in there, guess I'll have to prank you instead!" He grins, grabbing the doorknob and jiggling it. Locked. He clicks his tongue.

He walks up to the door, slowly grabbing the handle and twisting it open, it was unlocked of course.

"Hah! Thought you could keep me out, huh?" He pushes the door open, having managed to unlock it after a few tries of picking the lock.

Everything was still there, it wasn't untouched. They'd cleaned up the insanity and mess afterwards. Jax made sure everything was back in the right place when nobody was around. He hadn't been back since. He tried, but always stopped before going in.

He freezes immediately, breath caught in his throat as his eyes grow wide. Eyes stare back at him. Way too many, way too colorful.

In the center of it all sat the box. Cartoon flowers on either side of the framed grinning face of Ribbit.

He shakes his head, staring at the abstraction. Ribbit. He takes a step back. Ribbit takes a step forward. He runs.

Jax lets out a shaky breath, pushing the door behind him. Leaving it only a crack open. The light from the hall didn't shine into the room anymore, leaving it dark. He took a step forward, towards the 'funeral' box.

The rabbit hides, covering his mouth as he hears the rampage, the screams. He didn't go to the funeral.

He falls to his knees in front of it. "God, this is gonna feel so dumb." He lets out an anxious laugh, pushing his ears back as he adverts his eyes. "I uh...hey..Ribbit. I know that you can't really hear me or anything. You're in the cellar..but this is all I got. So." He chuckles, moving to sit with his legs crossed, hands gripping his knees.

"Sorry, I never showed up for your funeral..uh.." This feels so awkward. "I guess..I can update you? On everything? I'm sure you already know..Kaufmo's down there with you now. But, it's funny-well not really but, someone new came to the circus the same day. She..kinda reminds me of you, sometimes. Pomni. I think you would have liked her..you'd probably get along."

A sigh escapes him, moving his eyes around the room, now fidgeting with the ends of his gloves. "She's fun. I uh, kinda ruined it though. So. I don't think she wants anything to do with me now." His eyes feel watery, he blinks it away. "This does not need to be any more embarrassing than it already is, I know you're laughing at me! You would. Heh."

He breathes in, still shaky.

This was where he stayed, talking to the portrait of his old friend until he fell asleep on the floor.

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.
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Caine really wanted another sports adventure. So, that's where they are today. Another game against the Evil Big Tops.

Evil Pomni is still cool. Except, she was reminding him of Pomni trying to be evil. Whatever, at least she is talking to him. And he isn't in a maid dress this time. No hats either, they have jerseys with "Big Tops" or "Evil Big Tops" on them, circus behind the words. Same logos as the softball adventure. They had an outfit change, wearing shorts and long socks with those spiky shoes they use in (American) soccer. That's what they are playing, soccer.

Kinger and his evil counterpart are the refs, again. Evil Orbsman is their goalkeeper, while Ragatha is their own.

It wasn't like they were playing anymore, they are pretty much just insulting each other now.

He and Evil Pomni were talking [DOINK] about everyone. He didn't care what anyone else was doing, until he saw "Evil" Jax walking up to Pomni, smiling and waving at her. His Pomni. In the circus way. She isn't his. They aren't even friends. They are just in the same circus as each other. Obviously.

It still [BOING]s him off. Scowling at his clone.

Evil Pomni notices, chuckling, "what? You hate him that much? Jealous or something?" She grins, a hand on her hip. Jax looks at her again. Scowl now directed at her. "Jealous of what? Do you see him?" He gestures over to the other rabbit. "All "I hope we all have a fun game" like a loser. Ugh." He mimics the way he spoke, copying his mannerisms while doing so.

"Heh, HEY! Evil Jax!" She cups her hands around her mouth, Jax raises a brow not sure what she's about to do, Evil Jax looks over to the two of them, Pomni does too. When Evil Jax saw him, he shuffled behind Pomni like she would protect him.

He didn't let the clown finish what she was going to do, "KILL! YOUR! SELF!" Pomni looks disappointed. Not approving of what he said. That doesn't feel..good. He saw her laughing last time, when he was using him like a chew toy.  She thought that was funny, but not this. He feels his smile falter. That is how she looks at him after days of not sparing him a single glance? Disappointed? He watches as she turns to the pink Jax, saying something to him he can't catch.

Laughter sounds from next to him, "YEAH!!! WHAT HE SAID!" It isn't the same as Pomni's laugh. It doesn't feel the same.

They're NPCs. He told her none of this was real.

"He's goonnaaa..come back to the circus with us." Jax is messing with the Fudge Monsters fudge. Disappointed with how the adventure ended. Not caring about whatever Pomni or Ragatha really said.

Jax rushes through the portal, grinning. Finally something went his way, a shame he can't watch though. But hey, he has a new key.

The gummy crocodile explodes into confetti, the jester laughs. Not a sane or happy one. He thought she would cry, but she didn't. Ragatha tried to comfort her.

Jax hears a surprised yelp and a thump from up front, the cash register. "Hello!" He peeks over with some curiosity. That gummy guy she tried to bring back on her second day. She is an anxious mess. Not any of his business, he wants to get this dumb shift over.

Right. She has a soft spot for the dumb NPCs. What, does she like that knockoff better than him? He isn't even real! A cheap knockoff! The exact opposite of him! Of course she would like him better. She likes Ragatha and Gangle. Evil Jax was like if the two of them combined into one. He just looked like him. Is that what she wants from him? For him to act like them? Will she talk to him again if he is? Will she look at him with her big eyes again? He swears her irises grew bigger when she looked at him sometimes. Smile at him ag-[BOING], no. He messed it all up so he wouldn't hurt her in the end. Like everyone else. It's better she doesn't. It's better she stays away.

Even if it hurts.

He deserves that, though.

 

.
.
.

"Id move on." He turns to look at her, "And probably forget about you."

He can't even move on when she's still here. He can't forget about her.

He thought he moved on and forgot about Ribbit, but no. Everything is attacking his brain. Forcing its way back in.

"What would you do if I abstracted tomorrow?"

What will she do if he is the one that abstracts?

"You're not the funny one!"

"Whats your archetype then? The villain?"

The villain. That's what he is, isn't he?

"You are my playthings, and I get JOY out of making. You. Suffer! I'm the one who causes pain for FUN!"

Will they even give him a funeral? No. They won't. He never showed up to anyone's, nobody will show up to his. Much less have anything good to say. So why even bother with one in the first place? They'll mark off his door with one of those red X's and will probably celebrate. Like they did the other day, glad he wasn't around.

He thought that maybe Pomni wouldn't be that way, at least before. She's persistent. She doesn't just give up.

He's not sure now. He thought she wouldn't stop trying with him after their fight, but obviously he was wrong. A small part of him did want her to keep trying but he pushed it aside. Pushed it aside like he pushed away Pomni.

Is it fixable? Does he want to fix it?

Maybe he will abstract before he gets the chance. Or maybe Pomni will hate him forever, like everyone else. Like he wanted her too. Will she even let him try?

He'll probably just abstract.

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.

"Are you serious?! Another team adventure!?" Jax throws his arms out, glaring at the pair of teeth. They didn't get to pick their teammates this time either, Caine said that "the last team adventure worked out so well so I've decided to bring back teams! Your teams worked so well together last time so you get to pair back up! How exciting!"

Did he even watch them? Wasn't he too busy with his awards show? He blew up on Pomni at the end. Rags and Kinger weren't even together for most of it. They were separated early on. And..he didn't even want to think about whatever Zooble and Gangle did. It seemed pretty obvious they were talking about Gangle when they told Caine "what they really wanted."

Being on a team with Pomni again would be fun, if they were speaking to each other. If Pomni didn't want nothing to do with him.

Caine doesn't care about any of that though. They have to actually work together to get back to the circus. It wouldn't end until then.

"Let's just...get this over with." Pomni walks ahead of him, he watches for a moment before following himself. Slower, a bit of a distance away.

Of course she wants to get it over with. She doesn't want to be on a team with him. She doesn't want to talk to him. Doesn't want to be around him. They usually met at night when they both couldn't sleep. Just talking away in the kitchen. He hasn't seen her there since the fight. She's been perfectly fine without him. Smiling and laughing, with everyone but him.

That's what he wanted.

He got what he wanted.

Why does it upset him so much when it's exactly how it should be?

"Jax."

He pushes people away. He makes sure they can't get attached. He makes sure he can't get attached.

And yet, Pomni. Stubborn little Pomni. Pushed her way past it all.

"Jax!" He blinks, realizing he was staring down the jester. And that she was trying to get his attention. "Huh?"

She's looking at him, worried? No, that can't be right. Irritated? That seems more likely. "I was..are you okay, Jax?" Is she worried? Why would she be? They aren't friends. She should hate him just as much as anyone else in this circus!

"What's it to ya'?" It comes out harsher than he meant it too, oh well.

Pomni blinks, looking away for a second then back at him a confused look forming on her round face. "I mean..it's been..a while," she hesitates, hands messing with the pompom on the front of her costume, "I know we haven't been talking, and that's-that's fine-" She's the one not talking to him. Why is she making it seem like that's HIS fault?

"Tch." He clicks his tongue, cutting her off. "Yeah, I'm sure it is fine. You've been all buddy-buddy with EVERYONE else. All smiles and giggles. Even with that poor excuse of a copy of me! Don't even try to act like you want me around. Nobody does and that's how it should be." Shut up.

"What? No, that's no-" She looks confused.

"It is! We aren't friends! You don't need to act like you care or like you like me or anything! I know none of you do. Because 'Jax is the one that messes everything up' for fun!" Shut up.

"We are NOT doing this again, Jax!" She pinches the spot in-between her eyes, where the bridge of a nose should be, not having it today. "I just asked if you were okay. Clearly not, with whatever inner turmoil you have going on- and you don't communicate!" She throws her arms out, is she mad? She should be.

"Inner turmo-?" He jabs a finger onto his head, "There's no 'inner turmoil' in here! What're you talking about?" He tries to grin away the fact she's right.

"No. What are YOU talking about? Seriously Jax, I thought that maybe you wanted space and you'd come to me when you're ready, but you're upset that I'm talking with my friends?" They aren't friends. He's not upset. "You haven't come to me, so I haven't gone to you. I don't know what you want Jax."

"'Evil' Jax is your friend now?" He glares, ears falling flat against his head. "What I want? I don't want you talking to that thing." I don't want you to ignore me.

She looks at him confused for a moment, before her brows furrowed. More angry. "What does he have to do with any of this?"

"It isn't me. Everyone probably likes that rip-off better. You like it better too! The nice Jax, the one that doesn't ruin anything! You all want me to be like that!"

"Wha-? No, I don't? I mean, yeah you could be better bu-"

"See! You like that version better!"

"I do not like him better than you, that's dumb. Do you like Evil Pomni better than me?" She shoots back. He can't place the tone. He thinks it's angry, but her face looks like it's fighting between three or five different emotions.

"And what if I do?"

Pomni stares at him in response, like she's trying to dig into his brain. Pick him apart. Study him.

He tenses, now smirking. Throw her off. Don't let her read you. "Maybe it would be better if we swapped places, huh? I'd get to do whatever I want to them and it wouldn't matter! It'd be funny! And allll of you can get the sucker. Get what you all want. And it'll be so boring for you! It'll be hilarious!"

"You..aren't making any sense, Jax.." Her body relaxes, slumping into herself. Worried. Pity.

He wants to tear his ears off. Get out of this adventure and just..he doesn't know! He doesn't want to be stared at by her like that! He shouldn't be caring! But she was talking to him again. She was talking to him and he hated it. He's trapped in here with her, he doesn't even know where they are! He wasn't paying attention to anything! Just that they had teammates and his was Pomni! He doesn't want to be here with her like this. She needs to go back to ignoring him. Stop caring! Don't look at me like that!

"Jax?"

"Let's get this stupid thing done."

He can't be here with her any longer. It's too much. He can't let her care. She can't care.

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.
.

He is going to abstract.

He's sure he will, any day now.

And he can blame nobody but himself.

Pomni is looking at him again. But with way too much care, too much worry, too much pity.

And it feels like his digital heart becomes a stone. Dropping to his stomach with every look.

Like all the moisture in his mouth moved to sweat in his hands.

Gross.

He hates it.

And it's Pomni's fault.

Caused by only himself, so really....it is all his fault.

He is going to abstract, and it's his own fault.

Like Ribbit. Like Kaufmo.

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.

It's his turn to stay in his room.

Not an hour of sleep.

Pomni..she doesn't deserve any of what he's done.

She doesn’t deserve to abstract, especially not if he's the one to contribute to it.

Apologizing. Not something he's good at but, she at least deserves that before he abstracts. Before she has the chance too.

How? A simple "sorry I'm a [BOING]." wont cut it.

They are in digital hell, he wouldn't be able to do much in terms of getting her something.

Cooking? Baking? It's not enough.

Gangle can draw, but she won't help him.

Ragatha can sew, or knit or..something like that-but what's he gonna do? Make a scarf? A blanket? Lame.

Oh.

Maybe that could work.

She seems sentimental enough for that...he thinks.

He's a bad friend...or was.

And if she still hates him after then, maybe, that'll be for the better.

It won't hurt if she does.

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.

While everyone else is on that dumb adventure, he spends his time preparing.

Mentally, physically.

The longer he thinks about it and the more he waits, the more he thinks that this will be stupid.

Maybe she'll laugh at it. At him.

But he can’t back out. He doesn't want his nightmare to be a reality. He doesn’t want to leave her without an apology.

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.

He waited until it was night, when everyone else was sure to be asleep, to knock on her door.

He breathes in, holding his breath as he slowly and quietly knocks.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

He glances to the side, his ears are already against his head. He hates that, but he doesn't fight against it.

He had told himself to drop the mask for this. That is what he's fighting. The urge to run away, hide behind that stupid empty smile.

Pomni doesn't deserve more of that. Not tonight, not when he wants to try and fix it. Apologize.

It feels painfully long before the door opens, Jax almost wondering if he should knock again or leave. But it opens. And there stands a tired jester.

"Uhm..hi?" He uses one hand to wave at her, the other clutching the items behind him like a lifeline. The worst smile he can manage putting on greets her. He knows it looks bad.

She looks surprised. Then, confused. "Uh..hi..Jax? It-it's almost one AM, wwhhhhyyy are you at my door right now..?"

A fair question. "I uh..." He glances at both ends of the hall, "can I..come in? For just a minute-you can kick me out whenever!" He can't deny that he feels nervous. A foreign feeling, really. He hates it.

Pomni hesitates, copying what he did and looking down both sides of the hall before she slowly moves aside with a nod. "Sure..? Are you-uh. Sorry, nevermind." 'Are you okay?' He knew what she was going to ask. And after last time..yeah. Stopping herself seems like the safest choice she has. It's a good thing he's already here to apologize.

He gave her a small nod before walking in, making sure she doesn't see what he has behind him. "You aren't gonna try to..pull a prank on me or something..are you?"

"I wouldn't have knocked if that was what I was gonna do." It came out blunter than he meant it to, he was already messing this up and he hasn't even started. "I-no I'm not here to prank you- and for the record what I'm here for isn't a joke or anything-so." Yeah. Trap yourself in this corner, Jax. Good idea. Now there's no backing out of it when it all goes wrong. Genius.

"Oh..oh, okay.." She seems hesitant while she closes the door, moving to sit on her bed. She left room for him.

How does anyone do this? "This is so stupid..." He mutters to himself, clearing his throat he speaks more clearly. "I..." His eyes move away from Pomni, he needs to look at her for this.

[DOINK] it. He presents the two stuffed plushies from behind him. One of himself and one of Pomni. The carnival had them, Caine was...weird about the prizes there. He holds up the one of himself, watching as Pomni blinks in surprise. "He has something he wants to say." He hopes that the shaking isn't obvious, that'd make it more embarrassing. Jax holds the mini Pomni lower, but more carefully than the hold on his own.

Pomni waits. "He..wants to say-" He breathes out, shakily. "He wants to say he's sorry." Her eyes got wider, but he doesn't let her speak. "For..the fights. He didn't mean too and he doesn't want you to ignore him..he doesn't like it. He wants to say that..he knows he's a jerk but he...likes spending time with you. He's just a bad friend. And..I'm sorry, Pomni.." He slowly lowered the plushie of himself, looking at Pomni at the end of his last sentence.

"I just-I dunno, I'm..I do care..about you, I don't want-I'm not good at any of this stuff." His arms hang loosely by his sides as he looks to the floor beside her. "I thought that if I pushed you away then I wouldn't..ruin you? If you hated me then everything would be fine and be how it's meant to be but-I can't- I don't like it. I don't want you to hate me, it's not fun. Having you ignore me like that..talk to everyone else." He shrugs, unsure of himself, of anything he's saying.

"And I didn't think that- I wouldn't forget you..if you abstracted. I- after I said that, and you looked at the gun I thought that you'd, shoot..yourself?" He tried to be careful with his words, backtracking to say it right. Pomni lets out a small "oh" at hearing that, but lets Jax keep the floor. "I said it was a joke, I didn't- I was, am..scared. And-and then you didn't come out of your room after the awards show-" He feels his eyes were warmer, wetter. This was already embarrassing enough. He doesn't want to cry on top of it all. He'd abstract from pure embarrassment. "And Ragatha said you didn't answer her."

Pomni's eyes widen hearing that, "oh! I..didn't even think about that..." Her eyes moved to the side, a frown on her face. "I'm sorry." She looks back at him, frown staying in place. "I kinda had a similar concern with you, wanting me to..betray you. And then you told Evil Jax to kill himself-what even was that?"

Jax blinks, standing up straighter. "I..don't really know. I didn't like you talking to him. I don't like him."

"Being jealous is not a reason to tell someone to kill themselves, Jax. NPC or not."

"Well I know that-! I didn't say I was jealous!" He's quick to defend himself, which only earns him laughter.

"Ehhh, you kinda did though." She moves her hand about in that 'maybe' kinda gesture, Jax tosses the mini him at her with a huff, gaining more laughter.

The plushie bounces off her hat onto the bed, which she then grabs and examines with quiet giggles. "I still want to be friends with you, Jax. If..you want to, at least." She traced the head of the little rabbit, going over the ears gently.

She still wants to be friends after everything? He had been prepared for flat out rejection, being told to [HONK] off. She really does surprise him, every time. His ears perk up at it, "You-really? You actually want to be friends?" He's sure he looks stupid right now, head tilted, ears floppy. His mouth open in a silent gasp and wide eyes.

Pomni's face shifts to a teasing grin. "Hm? Oh, no I was talking to mini Jax, look at him!" This clown. She held the plush up beside her head, face full of amusement. The plush rabbit grinned at him, the eyes permanently pointed to the side. Looking at Pomni. Like it's taunting him.

"I DID NOT get you that so you could replace me with it!" He points at her then the plush. "Gimme that!" He hops over to her, reaching for the plush. The Pomni one being tossed behind her on the bed.

She squeaks a laugh, pulling the plush closer to her, his hand catching air. He can't help the grin that forms, reaching again for the plush. Just before he can grasp it, Pomni pulls her arm away and chucks the plush behind her. Next thing he knows, her arms are around him pulling him into a hug. "Jealous of a plushie of yourself now too, huh?" She teases, "I'm not replacing you with a plushie-or with anyone else. Of course I still want to be friends, you're fun to be around when you aren't tormenting people." She gives his head a pat, loosening her arms around him. "Sorry, is-is this okay?"

He breaks out of his momentary surprise, slinking his arms around her with his face pressed into her shoulder. "Mmhm, 'is fine." He mutters into her shoulder, lifting his head a bit. "Tormenting is what I do, the essence of Jax! What's with all the hugging anyway? Clingy."

"You can't be saying anything, you're literally clinging to me like I'll disappear if you don't." He can't see her face but he's sure she rolled her eyes at him. "Maybe I just want to give hugs now, is that a problem?"

"Yeah, when have you ever been touchy?" Despite his 'complaining' he shifts them to be more comfortable, since they were basically on the edge of the bed. Pomni's legs were hanging off, and Jax was pretty much just...on the floor in front of her. He pushes himself on the bed, pulling Pomni over with him so she is laying properly on her bed then drops his weight on her with his head on her chest. He keeps her close, almost curling up on her.

She shrugs, "just feel like it, I guess." She scratches the spot under his jaw, not quite under his chin but nearby. He won't admit it, but it feels nice. He catches himself leaning into it, tilting his head to give her more access to the spot.

"Did you just want to pet me like an animal?" She snickers, "I'll bite your hand." It's an empty threat.

"You wouldn't, you're enjoying it." She teases, he clicks his tongue in response.

"Tell anyone and I'll kill you."

"'Course not. My lips are sealed. They'd tease you relentlessly. Well...actualllyyy....maybe you deserve it hmm..."

He tugs the end of her hat, "don't you dare, Pommers." He earns a light slap on his arm in response. "..Did you tell them about what happened? Rags said I did something to cause you to not leave your room afterwards. I think she's just jealous though, accusin' me a' stuff." And yet, he still believes her. How dumb is that? Him? Listening to something she says? Listening to something she said about his relationship with Pomni. Twice.

How could he have denied he cares? He listened to Ragatha of all people! Pomni had broken down his carefully built defenses like they were nothing. He didn't stop her soon enough, and he can only fear the worst. He's attached and he swears to himself to never [BLOINK] this up that bad again. Only for Pomni. Maybe he's a bit selfish too, wanting to keep her close.

He tightens his hold on her just a bit, pressing his face back into her shoulder as her hand moves up to gently pet the top of his head. "No, I didn't tell them anything. It isn't any of their business what goes on between us, they aren't involved. Plus, they'd just get more on your [BONK] and it'd become a whole thing." She sighs, leaning her head back against the silk pillow. He can't even blame her for her insomnia if she has to use silk sheets every night. Huh, maybe a blanket wouldn't have been a bad idea. Maybe next time. Or he can let her experience the comfort of his blanket-nest. "I'll...talk to Ragatha about that later. That's not fair of her."

"Naaah, I can take 'em. Trust."  He grins lazily, rubbing his chin on her shoulder. "Thanks...though. You don't have to talk to Raggy about it, that's just how she is."

She snorts at his response, shaking her head. "She kept asking me if I was okay, if everything was alright for like...the whole week! And I appreciate that she cares, of course, but I almost blew up on her a couple of times.." Another sigh escapes her.

He reaches for the end of her hat again, flicking the pompom at the end. It makes a light ringing noise like a bell would make that catches his interest quickly. Grabbing the little ball and inspecting it, "You should've, it would've been funny."

"For you, maybe. I don't think it would be for anyone else."

He shakes the pompom-bell thing, hearing the ringing again. "Have these things always made noise? I don't think I've heard them whenever you walk or move or anything.."

"Oh, I don't really know? They ring sometimes. I mean, I'm glad it's not always because that would get annoying fast."

He shakes it again, letting it fall back down afterwards, "mhmm." All of this was honestly tiring, they didn't need sleep but the mental exhaustion was still there. Between the week's emotional experience and the lack of sleep...he's exhausted. Having his head pet and laying on Pomni with her digital warmth was lulling him to sleep. And he lets it, closing his eyes and nuzzling more into the jester.

"I don’t want you to abstract, Pom.." He mutters into her shoulder.

"I won't, and I'll make sure you don't either." She gives him a small squeeze before returning to slowly petting his head.

The two rest comfortably together like that for the remainder of the night, the two plushies next to them together equally comfortable looking like they're holding hands.

Notes:

ngl, the title was gonna fit in much more but somehow this took twists even i wasnt expecting so...yeah
meant to be like the two balance each other out and i guess it can still be read like that? or something? but anyway, tell me if it hurt :] it hurt me!